Diabetes: Prevalence--roughly 8% of the total US population has
diabetes. Of these 5% are Type I (autoimmune, require insulin) and 95% are Type II which is
life-style related. Of adults 60 and older approx 20% have diabetes. Possibly 40% of adults
ages 40-74 in the US have pre-diabetes. Estimated that of children born in the year 2000 and
later, roughly 1/3 of them will develop diabetes.
Definition: Fasting blood sugar 126 or greater is diabetes. Fasting blood sugars
from 100-125 are pre-diabetes. Metabolic syndrome or Syndrome "X" has 3 out of the following 5 risk
factors: Abdominal obesity (waist circumference >35 inches for women, >40 inches for men),
Triglycerides >150, HDL cholesterol <50 for women or <40 for men, blood pressure > 130/80 and fasting
blood sugar 110 or higher.
Causes: Type I is clearly autoimmune--linked to early exposure to cow's milk
protein (i.e. being formula-fed instead of breast-fed) and also linked to infection with a Coxsackie
virus--which seems to prime the immune system to attack and destroy the islet cells of the pancreas.
Type I diabetes normally requires life-long insulin therapy to prevent coma and death. Type II is
clearly life-style related.
Obesity/sedentary lifestyle is biggest determinant. Eating foods with no nutrient
value AND eating foods that are high-glycemic (refined carbs low in fiber) contribute. (Note: recommend watching the film
Super Size Me--a Film of Epic Proportions which is a documentary on the effects of eating from
McDonald's 3 times per day for a solid month. The director who did this developed high lipids,
high uric acid, high liver enzymes and gained 25 pounds. I strongly recommend staying away from
fast foods and sodas which contain high-fructose corn syrup.)
Also there have been studies indicating the increased consumption of fruits and
vegetables in women who were all obese had a protective effect. Women conversely who ate bacon and
hot dogs had a significantly higher risk of developing diabetes. (Both from Diabetes Care 27: 2108,
2004). The type of obesity that is pear-shaped (around the abdomen) rather than apple-shaped (around
the hips/thighs) is more dangerous. Having liposuction to remove cosmetically visible abdominal fat
does NOT reduce the risk of diabetes because the visceral fat (around the organs) has not been reduced.
Sedentary lifestyle is also a big cause and micronutrient deficiencies clearly play a role.
Complications: Diabetes has many co-morbid conditions. Hyperglycemia has a direct
toxic effect on cells--another reason to eat a low-glycemic diet even if you are not diabetic. There is a
much higher risk of macro vascular (large blood vessel) diseases--strokes and heart attacks. There is high
risk of micro vascular (small blood vessel) complications--retinopathy (blindness), nephropathy (kidney
failure) and neuropathy--both peripheral (as in foot ulcers/amputations) and autonomic with slow gastric
(stomach) emptying.
There is now evidence of increased cancer risk with diabetes and also increased risk
of dementia. In fact having the full blown metabolic syndrome almost doubles the risk of developing
dementia. Diabetes is also a model for accelerated aging--thought to happen in part because of the
increased free radicals/oxidation that occurs in diabetics. (The increase in oxidative stress is a
VERY good reason to not smoke. Smoking also raises free radical formation and does NOT mix with smoking.)
So diabetes is NOT a benign disease--there are many serious complications--for both
Type I AND Type II diabetics. The good news is that with proper lifestyle changes and nutritional
supplements, the disease in many cases can be controlled and complications minimized or even reversed.
Approach to management: Of course Type I diabetics will need insulin. They
also need a program to minimize the long-term complications that come with high blood sugar. Type II
diabetics need a program to increase insulin sensitivity and also to minimize the other complications.
The most important thing to address with Type II diabetes is weight loss. This should be accomplished
by eating a diet rich in unrefined plant foods--vegetables and fresh fruits (no juices--too refined)
and minimizing animal foods that are high in saturated fats or trans-saturated fats.
The diet should be high fiber. (Average fiber intake in America is 10-12 grams per
day. Recommended for diabetics is over 30 grams--easily accomplished on a vegetarian diet but many
people should supplement if they are not eating it naturally.) The more processed a grain is, the
more it will raise blood sugar. For example old-fashioned oatmeal is better for you (lower glycemic
index) than the packets of instant oatmeal. Cracked wheat is better for you than even whole wheat
that is finely ground to a fine pastry style flour. The more a grain is processed, the higher the
glycemic index. Some diabetics should avoid ALL flour products--even the whole wheat variety because
of the increase in blood sugar that will result. Legumes (beans lentils, split peas) by contrast
are rich in fiber and will have a positive effect on blood sugar.
Supplements that are helpful include the 8-sugar glyconutrient blend. This helps precisely because insulin resistance is caused in part by a defect in the receptor molecules on the cell surface. Insulin cannot bind to the cell and transport glucose across the cell membrane if the receptors aren't built correctly. The body uses 8 specific sugars to build the insulin receptors properly. Our diets supply 2 of the necessary 8. The others have been refined out of the diets. When a person supplements with a balanced mixture of these glyconutrients, we usually see improvement in glycemic control.
Another very helpful supplement is a plant sterol compound. Plant sterols and their hormone predecessors--such as DHEA-- help balance hormones--incl insulin--and improves the cells' sensitivity to insulin. Plant sterols also help reduce abdominal fat, improve metabolic rate and also improves the function of the endothelium--a one-cell layer thick coating of the inside of all our blood vessels. A healthy endothelium is necessary for good cardiovascular function. I have also found very helpful a lozenge that contains beta glucan and colostrum. This also has a balancing effect on glucose metabolism.
Also, there are studies linking ingestion of the antioxidant green tea to better blood sugar control--both in humans and rats. (BMC Pharmacol, 2004 Aug: 4(1) :18) Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to help with the neuropathy that is so common with diabetes. There is evidence linking increased consumption of chromium to blood sugar control. Every diabetic should ideally be on a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement as well as an antioxidant to get these compounds.
A study out of Pakistan found that diabetics who ingested 1/4 tsp of cinnamon twice per day had reductions in both blood sugar and cholesterol. And finally, most diabetics have a low HDL (the "good" kind of cholesterol) and high triglycerides. These of course are independent risk factors for heart disease.
The Italian GISSI Prevenzione Trial of more than 11,000 participants showed that daily supplementation of 850 mg of the omega-3 fatty acids resulted in a 30% reduction in death from cardiovascular disease and a 45% reduction in sudden cardiac death. These numbers equal or exceed the benefit realized by statin drugs. In summary, diabetes is a highly prevalent condition brought on by lifestyle factors with severe co-morbid conditions.
I recommend that EVERY diabetic get on a time-release antioxidant twice per day, a standardized plant sterol complex of 25 mg--2 with each meal, and good multi-vitamin/mineral supplement, and a glyconutrient blend of the 8 vital sugars in the amount of 1 tsp twice per day. Many diabetics receive additional benefit from adding an immune-boosting lozenge containing beta glucan and colostrum twice daily.
There may be some additional benefit from fish oils and cinnamon. I have seen significant clinical benefit in patients in my practice that followed the above regimen. I also encourage everyone regardless of state of health to get on these same supplements. Virtually everyone realizes a shift back toward wellness with this program. And don't forget to exercise and maintain normal body weight!
